PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Taylor Healey (Campton, N.H.) scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, and classmate
Kayla Antonucci (Windham, N.H.) made nine saves as Plymouth State University handed Castleton University its first Little East Conference (LEC) setback, 4-3, in an LEC field hockey game at Panther Field on Wednesday evening.
Castleton came out firing and built an early 2-0 lead. Freshman
Caroline Coleman (Conway, N.H.) nearly found the back of the net but her deflection sailed over the cage. The Panthers began to mount their comeback when Healey converted a penalty stroke in the second quarter, her 16th goal of the season, to cut the deficit in half.
Less than three minutes later, sophomore
Jenna Stowell (Londonderry, N.H.) knocked in her first of the year to tie the game at 2-2.
The score remained tied until the early stages of the fourth quarter when junior
Athena Comeau (Rutland, Mass.) came screaming up the middle of the field and fired home a beautiful goal to give PSU its first lead of the game. Castleton evened the score on a penalty corner with 11 minutes left in regulation and the game went into overtime.
The OT session featured back and forth action, beginning with a monster save by Antonucci when a Spartans' player came in on goal all alone. Another huge defensive stand by the Panthers led to a chance to bring the ball up field. Comeau carried up the left side and cut to the middle. The ball eluded her, but found Healey near the cage. Patient, Healey waited for the goalkeeper to make the first move before stretching out to tuck the game-winner into the back of the cage for the 4-3 win.
Plymouth State improves to 7-3 (5-1 LEC), while Castleton falls to 6-5 and 4-1 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Castleton 3 (OT)
- Plymouth State (7-3, 5-1 LEC)
- Castleton (6-5, 4-1 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Spartans got on the board twice in the first quarter to take a 2-0 lead into the second.
- PSU cut the deficit in half when Healey converted on a penalty stroke.
- The Panthers tied the game 2-2 on Stowell's first of the season just three minutes later.
- Castleton's goalie made key saves throughout the second quarter to keep the score tied.
- Early in the fourth quarter Comeau used her speed and found a hole to give the Panthers their first lead of the game.
- Antonucci made a huge save to preserve the lead, but minutes later Castleton converted a set play out of a penalty corner to tie the game at 3-all.
- Antonucci came up big again early in the extra session when Castleton came in alone for a scoring chance.
- Healey made a move around the goalkeeper, leaving her feet to flick the ball into the open cage, for her 17th of the year.
By the Numbers:
- Antonucci made six of her nine saves in the fourth quarter.
- Healey scored her 16th and 17th goals of the season, her fifth multi-goal game of the year.
- Stowell's tally was the first of her career.
- Plymouth State moves to 14-8 all-time against the Spartans. The Panthers have won six of the last eight meetings, including five of six at home.
- Entering the game, Castleton was one of four LEC teams unbeaten in conference play.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to Westfield State on Saturday (Oct. 8) for an LEC clash with the Owls starting at noon.
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